DILG to public: 911 not for distraction calls

While using the Philippines set to reveal the 911 emergency hotline on Aug. 1, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) attracted individuals not to ever fool around while using number-as it could spell life and death.
“Nakikiusap po kami sa publiko na huwag tumawag sa 911 para lang subukan ito o manloko dahil makakasagabal ang mga taong totoong tumatawag sa hotline at nangangailangan ng tulong,” said DILG Secretary Ismael “Mike” D. Sueno.
(We ask the public not to call 911 basically to test it or being a prank because this will hinder people that truly need assistance from getting real help.)

“’Yung mga tao, pwedeng ‘wag ‘yung kalokohan para ‘yung mga responders natin sa Police (PNP), Fire (BFP) can immediately respond and make a change,” Sueno said, in a recent statement.
(Please don’t fool around about it in order for the responders from your Police (PNP), Fire (BFP) can immediately respond and take action.)
“For every abstained prank call, one life may be saved,” he added.

Sueno said he or she is set to talk with President Duterte to help make the same appeal.
The DILG declared the 911’s predecessor, emergency hotline Patrol 117, received generally 57 hang and harassing phone calls per hour in 2015 alone.

The DILG already expects when using 2,730 hang and annonymous calls outside the anticipated 3,003 calls by the hour for 911.
The usage of 911 for the reason that new Nationwide Emergency Hotline Number appeared possible by way of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between your DILG Secretary and telecommunications companies which allowed the change in the designated national emergency number.

Sueno revealed that while President Duterte has given to make 911 cost-free, each and every call to 911 will initially be shouldered by callers until a whole new memorandum of agreement may be signed because of the agencies concerned and a new executive order may be issued by Duterte.
The DILG quoted retired General Eliseo Rio Jr. within the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and consultant to Patrol 117 as nevertheless after August 1, the existing 15 seats for any emergency hotline increases to 30, and the existing 43 answering services company agents increase to 90.